Flashback 2016
2016 has been a super busy year in terms of exploring the globe. We did an average of one trip a month, whether in India or overseas. Here are highlights of the past twelve months...
One month in South America
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The year started with an exotic destination - Myanmar...the land of pagodas. And hence, I have decided to end the year with an equally exotic destination - South America. Later in November, I am off to South America for a month. I am super excited...its been on the bucketlist for far too long! I would be visiting four countries - Galapagos (Ecuador), Peru, Bolivia and Brazil. Here is a snapshot of what my plan looks like...
Where should you go in November?
Almost the entire year has gone by and its time to recharge your batteries before home run towards the year end. 'Sweet November' is here. Plan a little break in November, before airlines and resorts hike their prices for Christmas and New Year. If you can't decide where should you go in November, read on for some ideas....
Travel Blogging: Its not all rosy!
I love my job as a travel blogger. I work as per my schedule. Sometimes, I get paid to travel. Most of my trips are at least part sponsored, if not full. Any day, this is a better place to be in as compared to my corporate banking role... at least, that is how I am feeling at this moment. However, there are some woes that I have as a travel blogger, or rather, as a newbie full time travel blogger. If you do intend to take blogging your full time job, read on...it is a fun ride...but it isn't a smooth ride!
Do you like to fly?
If I say that I love flying, I am sure you know that I am lying… As I enter the plane, The cleanliness freak in my... Read More
Planning a trip to Nainital
After our recent trip to Austria, Ankur and I have been wanting on plan a trip to a hill station in North India. Somehow, Austria has made us fall in love with the mountains once again, after almost five years of having loved only beaches. We have been discussing where to go next and there are many names that we have researched. Nainital is one name that always pops up when hill stations in India are discussed. While Ankur has been to towns near Nainital, he has never been to Nainital. Thus, starts the process of figuring out the doability of a trip to Nainital in the months to come.
Selecting my ride…
I resigned from my banking job sometime in June and was expecting to be relieved by mid July. Well, as luck may have it, my organisation decided to accept my request for an early relieving and let me go on 30th June...the day I had to leave for Austria. I was happy...yahooooooo...finally...I was free to travel for a while...for a long long time! In the past twelve years, never have I left on a vacation without preparing a 'hand-over email'. But this time was different. I could simply leave. Really? I could simply leave! I may want to say that I felt liberated! While it would be only ten days in Austria, it was still a liberating feeling!
Destination next….
My last day at work is done. I have given back the laptop and the keys to my drawer. So, now what? Really, there is a big unknown that I am staring into. For most part of the day, it lets me dream and makes me feel excited. However, there are some moments when I do feel lost. But I have Ankur and a really supportive family, so I bounce back again pretty soon.
Let me talk out loud and share my plans. For starters, I am going to live my dream and travel for a few months. Where am I going... is a truly a function of my budget. There are three regions that I am contemplating ...
Long Term Travel: Woes of an Indian Solo Woman Traveller
Earlier this month, I decided to give myself a break from the corporate grind, at least for a short while. However, having worked for over a decade, I need to have something to keep me busy. So, I have decided to travel. I have read blogs and articles on 'How I gave up all my material possessions to travel the world' to seek some ideas and inspiration; none of them seemed to help. For each of us, things are different... and reasons are different too. I have my reasons as well... and some of them still continune to nag me a little, even though I have decided to trade my formal wear for a pair of rugged jeans.
Here are six things that held me back till now...
What not to do on a Safari?
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I love the wild regardless of where the jungle is ...South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Brazil, Thailand or India! Being on a safari is an adventure that I truly enjoy.
To all those who share my liking for the wild, here are things that should not be done on a safari ...
Off to Myanmar, with the Asus ZenPad 8.0
Ankur is very possessive about his tablet. It is not often that I get it for the entire day! Considering that I am off to Myanmar for ten days, while Ankur will be toiling at office, I am sure he would want his 'trusted companion' around. I am glad that Siri is inanimate!
Enchanted Valley Carnival: Review
After quite some contemplation on whether we would enjoy EDM or not, Ankur and I went to the Bacardi Enchanted Valley Carnival at Aamby Valley last month. We had decided to 'feel young'...go ahead and live amongst thousands of EDM fans just to experience what camping at a music festival would be like. We enjoyed the weekend a lot and met some really cool people! Besides being high on energy at Tiesto's event, we attended one of Hariharan's live performances, made dream catchers, watched a magical sunset and feasted on delightful food and cocktails.
Flashback 2015: Photoblog
2015 has been a great year for us as travellers! In the past twelve months, We travelled to seven countries and managed to squeeze a few domestic trips around Mumbai over long weekends. As the year comes to an end, Ankur and I are sitting on the couch and wondering what 2016 will look like. Well, we can't peep into the future, can we? But we surely can look back at 2015 and raise a toast to a fantastic year that has gone by!
Enchanted Valley Carnival: Reasons to go…
I love festivals... and Ankur loves music. A music festival is possibly one event that both of us would enjoy... and its time we experience one! Attending the electronic music festival of Tomorrowland in Belgium is on our bucketlist. However, bobbing with the crowds at Tomorrowland means another trip to Europe in peak tourist season, which means budgeting for the air tickets, visa, accommodation, food, etc... all of which is expensive! No... can't do in 2016! But the Bacardi Enchanted Valley Carnival at Aamby Valley... can do!
How to Start a Travel Blog?
Travel blogging does not make us much money, at least, not as yet. I am still living on with the hope that one day, it... Read More
Favourite Sunsets
I can walk for miles, drive atop a cliff, take a boat to a lonely island, all for the want of enjoying the sunset. I don’t know why, but they truly fascinate me, each one being different from the other. I have gasped at the colours, across the world, watching shades of red, orange and grey in the sky. Throw in some bubbly and a cheese platter and I would pray for time to stand still.
Want to Run a Marathon?
It is strange how many people I know have started running. Some have suddenly become health conscious, some have it as a task on their... Read More
Finding a Place to Stay: Online Booking Sites
This post isn’t meant for the seasoned traveller. In fact, if you are a seasoned traveller, we would love to hear from you…. help us... Read More
Our 100th Post!
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When we started the blog in April 2014, after our Jordan trip, it was with the idea to inspire people to explore the world. My... Read More
Places to Visit (India) in 2015: Part 2
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Places to Visit (India) in 2015- Part 1 was a blog on what I want to do during the year- a monologue from my perspective. I... Read More
Places to Visit (India) in 2015: Part 1
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Recapping 2014 through the flashback posts, Flashback 2014: Part 1 and Flashback 2014: Part 2, made us realize that we had averaged at least one... Read More
Learning SCUBA Diving: The Inside Story
Ever since I was a kid, I have spent innumerable hours watching the Discovery Channel. The deep sea series has always been my favourite –... Read More
Flashback 2014: Part 2
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Amritsar, Bhandardara, Croatia, Dubrovnik, Hvar, Kuala Lumpur, Lucknow, Malaysia, Malindo Air, Melaka, Plitvice, Pune
///With six trips done from January to July 2014, the first half of the year had been good. We hoped that life would treat us... Read More
Flashback 2014: Part 1
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2014 was a travel busy year for us. We managed to do three international vacations and nine short breaks within India, including the annual visit... Read More
Top 5 Places to Revisit
It’s a big big big world….and life is short. Somehow, there never seems to be enough time to do justice to a country’s natural blessings,... Read More